Cold hands, determined hearts

When I spoke to my friends and family this weekend I was unanimously scolded. After Friday’s 15-hour occupation of Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya oil platform in the Pechora Sea, they all said “you’re getting too old for this!” With blue hands and feet from the cold, and in the midst of being treated by our ship doctor Marcelo for hypothermia, for a moment I thought they could be right.

But then I returned to the spirit on board our ship the Arctic Sunrise; the eager faces of my fellow activists Sini, Jens, Lars, Basil and Terry, the determination of our Captain Vlad, and the rest of the committed crew who were standing up for what they believed was right. Coming back to this I knew that the risks had been worth it.

For me, an action like the one we’ve just completed in the Arctic is Greenpeace at its best. Teams united in the one goal, taking a risk to confront dangerous industry at the frontlines of destruction, and shining a light on an environmental crime that happens out of the sights and minds of most regular people.

I’ve been an activist since the age of 15. I’ve seen the inside of a prison cell for the cause, but nobody - even with experience - can honestly say that there is no fear when you set out to take action involving risk to personal safety, or the risk of imprisonment. We were feeling it acutely in the days preceding the action as we traced through our different scenarios and plans. But I felt encouraged; we gave each other confidence.

And then our time came. We sailed early morning towards Gazprom’s oil platform, and soon some of my worst fears came true. During my first attempt to climb, I got knocked off course by a big swell and didn't make it up. I spent several minutes in the icy water fighting with the rope. Defeated and fighting the cold, I had to retreat to the boat.

My fellow activists were now 15 metres above me and I sat there, confidence shaken. Jono, an experienced climber and Sunrise crewmember, came to the boat to talk me through it. He checked all of my gear, made sure everything was in place. “Don’t rush,” he told me. “Take your time. You're going to be fine.”

And as we spoke and I thought of our task, I stepped up again.

The platform crew had already begun rocking the ropes and spraying us with icy blasts of water, but I had to make it up there.

As I climbed, I kept my eyes locked on Basil and Terry. They were coaxing me: “You’re almost there! One step at a time — that’s it!”

Finally, I made it. I looked out towards the Arctic Sunrise, some three miles away, and above me to the pinnacle of this monstrous platform. Elated, I was suddenly struck by our task – the reason why we were there.

Our children’s future is at stake. We have a responsibility to future generations. We need people now to wake up to taking responsibility for our planet.

I thought of the Indigenous Peoples of northern Russia, who I’d spoken to the week earlier. I thought about the way their land and culture and way of life has already been negatively impacted by the oil industry. It moved me to speak with them, and I felt the helplessness that they must feel.

In many ways it’s already too late, especially given yesterday’s news about the melting rate of Arctic sea ice. Time really is running out.

Another thing about standing face to face with a monstrous oil platform is realising sheer human might. If nothing else, these constructions are incredible feats of engineering, and if you think of the human and financial resource that goes into building one, you can’t help but think of what could be if the same energy was put into clean, renewable alternatives.

Looking up at the workers on the platform, it was clear that many of them agreed with us. Many of them spend long weeks away from their families and loved ones doing risky work just to earn a living. They offered lots of ‘thumbs up’ and peace signs. One worker, who was (presumably) ordered to spray us, stopped to ask if we were ok. There were a few who threw objects at us, but certainly not the majority.

Like us they’re also being held hostage to the fossil fuel industry. Like us, they do not have access to options, and this is what we’re setting out to change. Perched on this platform as we were, the level of arrogance and denial of science in government and industry astounded me.

And so I write to you today not as the Executive Director of Greenpeace International, but as one of a team of activists who stood up to say 'No' to a Russian oil giant determined to destroy our fragile Arctic.

Our campaign is far from over, and our resolve is strengthened from this experience. I’ve been inspired by the tenacity I’ve seen around me this week, the endurance in the face of adversity, and the willingness of decent people to put their bodies in the way of destruction in an act of defiance.

The next stop for the Arctic Sunrise will be to the edge of the Arctic sea ice to document its disappearance. There we will continue bearing witness to environmental injustices while mobilising the world to join with us.

To date nearly 2,000,000 people have pledged to fight the Arctic fight with us, and we encourage millions more. I thank you for your continued support. Without you we couldn’t do the work we do, and together I look forward to working with you again in the future.

If you have thoughts or comments on this action, we'd love to hear. What would you do to protect the Arctic?

'...because this NGO is a good indicator of what Will happen in the civil society...'

That is the scary part!

We are...

'...because this NGO is a good indicator of what Will happen in the civil society...'

That is the scary part!

We are all on the 'hero'-side...like in the age of stupid everybody including industry is green.

The last four years have been important - there was a chance of buiilding up something new.

With everybody being a hero I definately do not need DOCTOR Naidoo being one aswell...especially not with him (according to my understanding) being responsible for Greenpeace having falling into agony when it was needed more than ever.

In German soccer-league trainers sometimes get kicked out after a team lost a single game.

DOCTOR Naidoo got three seasons by now...according to my understanding three seasons too much! How can someone get the chance to make himself a hero if the club is just about to descend to local league?

If you want to do me a favor...please, never ever compare DOCTOR Naidoo to Obama!

Obama was not only permanently attacked by DOCTOR Naido...

If you want to do me a favor...please, never ever compare DOCTOR Naidoo to Obama!

Obama was not only permanently attacked by DOCTOR Naidoo...

Obama took over a dump from Bush...other Naidoo who took over the most florishing NGO in 2009!

Obama has real enemies who attack each single move of him,.,and he is not only facing immense problems - he is responsible for political stability in a country where some people start to worry about forces being active...

But Obama is still fighting although many people have unfortunately moved away from him

I don't think Mr Naidoo has so much to do with what's happening. The move to liberal ecology seem to have been initiated long time ago. People...

I don't think Mr Naidoo has so much to do with what's happening. The move to liberal ecology seem to have been initiated long time ago. People wasn't ready for that, now unfortunately they are.

Very smart words are that people on the plateform are just brave people working to make a living. "Like us they’re also being held hostage to the fossil fuel industry. Like us, they do not have access to options, and this is what we’re setting out to change."
That's how you draw a line placing yourself with the nice guy.

Everyday in my life i see another line between leaders blinded by money, cause, whatever and forgot those who actually follow orders to make a living. Not only are they just pawns in their game but also crushed by terrible forms of management.

Environment is to remind us makes us human being and why we should know what Respect is. Greensavior, I can imagine why you are shocked but the worst part is lastly i'm reading this blog and it looks like i'm reading an ordinary green magazine and campaigns are led in a way like there's no ecologist captain on board.

If we want to build something else, it is important to see others mistakes. I'm seeing alternatives but i don't want my ideas to be just some code line sold just to make money.

I do not really read DOCTOR Naidoo's blogs anymore, usually the picture and the headline are enough, it is always written according to the same sh...

I do not really read DOCTOR Naidoo's blogs anymore, usually the picture and the headline are enough, it is always written according to the same sheme, only protagonists are changing. Sometimes it is the Rainforest, sometime the indigenous people, or the Arctic...

I hope I understand you correct when saying:

'...Very smart words are that people on the plateform are just brave people working to make a living. "Like us they’re also being held hostage to the fossil fuel industry. Like us, they do not have access to options, and this is what we’re setting out to change."
That's how you draw a line placing yourself with the nice guy...'

It is exactly the points where I start to puke...it is extremly bad for the idea of Greenpeace, and for our fragile earth

Like us having no option, like us being held hostage by Apple, like us having to buy IPhones.

Greenpeace seems to be nothing more than a show, or a badly written magazine!

Interesting in this content is the version published by a German activist.

There have been metal-parts thrown at the activists, and activists felt their lives to be in dan...

Just to summarize the German version...:

There have been metal-parts thrown at the activists, and activists felt their lives to be in danger when they were told to come up to to the platform after it became obvious they could not stay any longer.

What is this here?

The famous tale-corner of DOCTOR Naidoo?

Yes, he is not stupid. Yes, he knows how to bend words. Yes, he is commited...